Weather Ready Nation adds Ambassador Number 1000 #AltusOK #WRN

Our newest Ambassador, The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), helped us reach the 1000th NOAA Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador.

The freezing temperatures that have blanketed most of the country last week and the historical lake-effect snowfall totals highlighted the importance of building a Weather-Ready Nation, one that is prepared for extreme weather, water and climate events.  WRN Ambassadors are a vital part of the national effort to ensure that all of us are ready for every kind of weather.

I also wanted to share with you some Ambassador success stories - and plans for the future:

• After becoming a WRN Ambassador, Midland Radio Corporation gave each employee an ER300 emergency crank weather alert radio and highlighted the importance of preparedness at a company-wide meeting.
• Bossier Parish Central Library now serves as a hub for people to come and be trained and educated on severe weather, severe weather preparedness, and severe weather safety.
• The National Environmental Education Foundation recently created a Winter Weather and Energy Public Service Announcement that was shown before Green Bay Packers games.
• NWS Weather Forecast Offices have created web pages to celebrate the accomplishments of their Ambassadors, such as in Tampa and San Francisco.
• NOAA is developing a National Seasonal Safety Campaign. In a couple of weeks, I will send an email with outreach materials on winter safety that I hope you will use in your outreach efforts. I invite you to be a part of this campaign and help build a nation that’s winter-ready.
• Raytheon Professional Services has committed resources to develop weather-ready training modules targeting elementary students, high school students, and adults. These training modules will teach people to become weather-ready and have the potential to reach millions across the country.

Looking ahead to 2015, we’re going to raise the bar in several new areas, including youth education, outreach to vulnerable populations, and getting businesses large and small involved in Weather-Ready Nation. Your support of these new activities will be essential for their success.

While the weather rarely cooperates as we head into the holidays, we have many reasons to be thankful. I want to personally extend my thanks to your organization for becoming a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador and contributing in ways you best can. Your dedication and support is essential to building a Weather-Ready Nation.